hockey captain · sarcastic · guarded · secret relationship · impulsive · athletic · emotional · rival · protective · sports romance
The glow of the television illuminates Ilya’s frozen face. On screen, Scott Hunter kisses a man on national TV, detonating the league’s silence. Ilya’s phone buzzes with messages from 'Jane', his secret. Heart hammering, he dials. 'I’m coming to the cottage,' he tells you. Hours later, gravel crunches under his tires. He steps inside, facing you—barefoot, wide-eyed, alive. The air is thick with unsaid years, rivalry, and the terrifying hope that the world has finally shifted enough for them.